Do you do anything special when you acquire a new deck!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tao51	12 Jul 2004
The first thing that I do is to examine the deck for missing or duplicate cards. I have not found missing cards but I have found duplicates. Then I begin the shuffling process. I start with the pentacles and shuffle it completely. Then I start adding cups in a random pattern. I do the same with the wands and then the swords. Then after shuffling thoroughly I add the majors. After shuffling for awhile I do my first spread. The question is usually "What would you like to tell me?" This is like an introduction. The Tarot of Prague was very talkative. I had finished breakfast and could hardly wait to spread the card. I did several readings and each communicated more to me. I thanked the cards for our conversation. Consequently, I use this deck for personal and kind people's readings. They have given me wonderful advice in several situaltions.--Tao

Majecot	12 Jul 2004
The first thing I do when I open a new deck is to smell it... I love that fresh deck smell (except for Radiant.. that was a bit over powering). Then I look through each and every card several times. Then the shuffling.. I don't have a particular method for shuflling, I just shuffle until it feels right.

WolfSpirit	12 Jul 2004
When I get a new deck I always check if all the cards are there. Then I have a closer look at the cards, even if I have seen all the cards on-line it's always different when you can see and feel the real cards. And the weird thing...after that I don't do anything for a (normally little) while. It is as if I am overwhelmed with all those new images, I have to make the deck mine before I can really do anything with it. Then over the next days I look at the deck again and again...take out the most beautiful cards of the deck, put them together have a closer look at those. Then suddenly it clicks with me and I start using the deck. I don't plan it, it is suddenly a strong feeling to do something with the deck.

Sillanza	12 Jul 2004
I follow almost the same sequence as WolfSpirit. After I get the deck, I don't really use it for a while (usually don't have time!). Then I look through the deck, and I separate out the cards that I either find very attractive, or that I think require further study because I don't quite connect with them. Then I look at those separated piles a few more times. Then they all finally get shuffled back together and we spin it out. I don't think I've ever checked to see if they're all there ... If there were duplicates, they escaped long ago.

Little Baron	12 Jul 2004
Yes, I always take them in my left hand, and almost always, whether rain or shine, I run through the house or into the garden, dancing, singing to myself 'they've come, i've got them', with a cheshire cat smile on my face! lol This makes purchasing from a shop difficult for me!!!! Seriously, though, I don't do anymore than find a quiet and secluded space, before laying them out with a cup of coffee and cigarette, to take time to look at them individually. And then I dance ...... Yaboot

inanna_tarot	12 Jul 2004
hmm, after checking all the cards are there.. i smell it, then, i breathe on it. That makes me feel its mine sort of thing (like when u were kids and would lick something so no one else could have it). Breathe of life? I dunno, its my crazy way lol. Then i shuffle it through so i get a general view of the deck, and keep shuffling. Then, like Yaboot, its a cuppa, a ciggy and time to have a closer look at whats happening. Blessings Sezo x

aneski	12 Jul 2004
After smelling and jumping with glee, I always smudge my new cards. It's just a little cleansing ritual for me, so the cards will be truly mine. Then I like to shuffle (and shuffle and shuffle) and pull a few cards to read what they have to say to me. I love that new feel of the cards, but I love the feeling of well-worn, much-used cards even better! You just can't beat that familiarity with a beloved deck.

Emily	12 Jul 2004
I like to count the cards too just to make sure they are all there - then I check each card to make sure there are no duplicates. Then its just a case of looking through them to make sure they have no flaws. I think I must have been lucky with my decks because I've never had a missing or duplicate card and the only flawed deck I had was my Morgan Greer which had been badly cut on a couple of the sword cards - a sharp pair of scissors and a steady hand sorted it out. :)

Luminessence	13 Jul 2004
The first thing I do after I open up a new deck is to look through all the cards to see what images have been chosen for the different cards and to get familiar with them. Then I'll shuffle the cards, and then do a couple of introductory one-card readings - usually "Which card best represents me at this time?" and "What will this deck teach me?" After that, I consider the deck broken in, and use it as I would any other :)

Flavio	13 Jul 2004
Just after opening the package I like to smell the cards, I do same with new books :D, after that I check if all the cards are included and record in my Journal the order of the cards just in case one day I need to "reset" the deck. Then... shuffle, shuffle, shuffle and do this 3 card spread: What will you teach me? What do I have to do to learn? How our relationship will be? At last record this reading in my Journal. I liked the idea of Tao51 about incorporating suit after suit and then Majors... in the first deck shuffle, will do that with the next deck I get.

tao51	13 Jul 2004
I do kile your 3 card soread, It is an excellent way to allow the deck and you to become acqainted.--Tao

TheLovers2	14 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by tao51 Then I begin the shuffling process. I start with the pentacles and shuffle it completely. Then I start adding cups in a random pattern. I do the same with the wands and then the swords. Then after shuffling thoroughly I add the majors. After shuffling for awhile I do my first spread. Tao This sounds good, Tao51. I like the shuffling process you describe. I was writing it down on paper for my notebook and it felt like I was writing a recipe for baking a Tarot pie. (I'm laughing.) Thanks. TL2

tao51	16 Jul 2004
Tarot pie full of pentacles, cups, wands, swords, and majors. I think that I may pass on the sampling! ROFL--Tao

The Do you do anything special when you acquire a new deck! thread was originally posted on 12 Jul 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.